Portable shelters, related shelter systems, and methods of their deployment

ABSTRACT

Portable shelters, shelter systems, and methods of deployment of such shelters are described. The shelters or housing units may be deployed in emergency housing situations and may be grouped into systems of shelters. One particular embodiment comprises a rigid top frame structure, a rigid bottom frame structure, and one or more collapsible support arms connecting the top frame structure to the bottom frame structure. The frame structures and the collapsible support arm(s) are sized and configured to form a shelter frame when the collapsible support arm(s) are in a fully extended position, and the top frame structure is brought into proximity with the bottom frame structure when the collapsible support arm(s) are in a collapsed position. Methods of rapid deployment of the shelters and systems of shelters are also described.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/912,079, filed Apr. 16, 2007, the disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the field of portable shelters, sheltersystems, and methods of portable shelter deployment. Specifically, thisinvention relates to temporary housing shelters which may be deployed inemergency housing situations.

BACKGROUND

Until now, humanitarian aid organizations, disaster relief agencies, andmost governments were missing a critical tool for emergency recoverefforts—readily deployable housing for displaced individuals andfamilies. After most natural and man-made disasters, housing needs canbe broken into three main periods: short-term housing, medium-termhousing, and long-term housing. A few types of specific disasters can beforecast, such as hurricanes, which create a different housing need anda fourth period: pre-event sheltering. The general housing needs duringand between those periods are drastically different. Currently, thereare no emergency housing systems that can address all four periods andyet be flexible enough to transition from one housing period to the nextas needs change, creating a housing gap that exacerbates recoveryefforts and increases victims' misery.

For example, when Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana and Mississippicoastal regions of the United States in August 2005, many residents ofthose states were left with houses submerged under water or withouthomes or shelter of any type. After residents in more northern parts ofMississippi were having power returned to their homes, many on theMississippi Gulf Coast were still living in tents in the parking lots ofdestroyed retail stores. In Louisiana, many houses also were destroyedin the southeastern parishes, and many New Orleans residents, who wereunable to evacuate before the storm, were stranded at the LouisianaSuperdome or New Orleans Convention Center in detestable conditions.

After Hurricane Katrina, one government agency attempted to providehousing assistance in the form of trailers, housing vouchers, leasedcruise ship cabins, etc. to those most affected by the storm. However,each of these systems has major drawbacks.

Specifically, regarding the housing vouchers, they proved to beinadequate at sheltering large populations for several obvious reasons.First, a housing voucher requires an individual or a family to berelocated to other areas of the affected region in order to shelter themin existing housing units. During a large displacement of the populationdue to a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, regional housing quicklyreaches capacity, so the remainder of the displaced population is movedout of the region. In the case of Katrina, families from New Orleanswere relocated as far away as Boston and Phoenix. By redistributing alarge number of people in such an abrupt and rapid manner, regionalinfrastructure is overwhelmed and cannot maintain day-to-day operations.Housing vouchers present numerous problems with fraud, abuse, and thecost of living in the varying locations to which families are displaced.

Cruise ships were leased after Katrina for a relatively high nightlycost on a per person basis and for a maximum stay of six months. Whilethese ships do allow a number of people to stay in a compact,self-sufficient area for an extended time period, the cruise ships arelimited to deep-water ports for deployment, can only handle a smallamount of the population from a major disaster, and must be leased orrented from private or foreign fleets.

One governmental agency was widely criticized for the slow andinadequate response in providing temporary housing to residents in needin Mississippi and Louisiana and for the high cost of the travel-typetrailers provided to residents. The subject trailers cost approximately$65,000.00 each for purchase and setup on site. This price did notinclude transportation costs of each trailer to the deployment site orthe removal costs of each trailer once it is no longer needed. Also, thetrailers are not designed for long-term storage and are too bulky toefficiently store in large numbers. Moreover, the trailers were of thetype that one truck could only pull one trailer, which resulted in thetrailers being individually delivered to individuals and families inMississippi and Louisiana using individual pickup trucks, which resultedin slow deployment of these trailers to those residents in need oftemporary housing.

Therefore, it is clear that past solutions have many flaws without eventaking into consideration the sheer costs associated with each. As such,there exists a need for housing for similarly displaced individuals andfamilies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets this need by providing, amongst otherthings, portable shelters which can be deployed individually or as partof a larger system of shelter. The present invention also provides afacile method of deploying portable shelters to meet these housingneeds.

The present invention provides a better solution to the housinggap—comprehensive, rapid-deploy shelters and shelter systems with avariety of customizable configurations to meet any challenge related tothe actual disaster or deployment site. The systems of the presentinvention comprise shelter units, accessories, and supportinginfrastructure that can be easily transported on a rapid timeframe. Thesystems' deployment sites can keep displaced populations as close totheir homes as safely possible. The individual shelter units of thesystems of the present invention provide safe, private sleepingarrangements for individuals and families. Each unit could offer powerand climate control and would offer security, durability, andexpandability for longer-term deployments. System components can endurelong-term storage in warehouse-type environments, be rapidly transportedthrough conventional means, and be fully deployable in large numbers inless than 24 hours. Also, the financial impact of a large-scale disastercan be somewhat tapered by creating a complete system for the verypurpose of emergency housing that is easily transportable, reusable, andmaintainable.

This emergency housing system is designed to be as flexible as possiblein terms of deployment. This flexibility allows the system to addressalmost any mass housing need that may arise from natural disasters towar refugees. Below are the two main types of deployment scenarios thesystem operates under, soft deployment and hard deployment. A softdeployment uses a host facility augmented only by the shelter units;whereas, a hard deployment essentially creates a self-sustainingcommunity at virtually any location by deploying shelter units alongwith power generators, climate control equipment, sanitation facilities,and medical service facilities. These two main deployment scenarios mayalso be blended to provide a tailored solution to a specificcircumstance. For example, a partial system may be deployed at a hostfacility. The host facility could provide central medical care, foodservices, and sanitation facilities while the emergency housing systemprovides the living/sleeping quarters, partial power, and climatecontrol. There are many of options that exist between these twoscenarios and this system can be tailored to fit any situation.

Specifically, two particular embodiments of the shelters of thisinvention, which are discussed in greater detail infra, are “soft-walledshelters” which each comprise rigid top and bottom frames andcollapsible support arms connecting each rigid top frame its respectiverigid bottom frame and “rigid shelters” which each comprise a hard shellmember and a rigid floor member which are interlockable one to theother.

In a soft deployment, the shelter units are deployed at an existingfacility that is designed to handle large crowds, such as a sports arenaor a convention center. In this scenario, the shelter units provideliving/sleeping quarters for people while the adjacent facility is usedfor power, sanitation facilities, and food services. This option allowsan extremely rapid response to a disaster event since only the shelterunits are deployed from the system and the existing host facilityprovides the additional support. Depending on the host facility and thetype of disaster being addressed, it may make sense to deploy sheltersinside that facility. In the soft deployment, either the soft-wallshelters or the rigid shelters or some combination thereof can be used.However, because the soft-wall shelter collapses into a small enoughpackage for storage and transport that it will fit through most doubledoorways, the soft-wall shelter is preferable in soft deployment. Thiswould allow a possible deployment site, such as the Astrodome inHouston, Tex., to shield shelters from extreme weather conditions whiledirectly powering and providing its own climate control systems to heator cool the shelters.

In a hard deployment, the entire shelter system is deployed without theaid of an existing facility. In this scenario, the shelter units provideliving/sleeping quarters but are augmented with other system componentssuch as portable power generators, climate control equipment, andsanitation facilities. While this scenario would require more time toimplement than a soft deployment, it could still be completed in a veryrapid manner—only adding a few hours overall to the deploymenttimeframe. A hard deployment would allow aid and housing to be deliveredwherever it is needed most, regardless of the conditions present therebefore, during, or after a disaster event. With the system in thisconfiguration, a deployment site can be as diverse as a shopping centerparking lot, an elevated roadway, a parking garage, a vacant lot, orsimply an empty pasture. In the hard deployment, either the soft-wallshelters or the rigid shelters or some combination thereof can be used.

When not in use, both of the shelter concepts are able to nest withsimilar shelters and flat pack for storage and transport. They can bestored efficiently until they are needed due to their rugged, allweather design which allows them to endure very long term storage spanswithout decay or wear. All system components can be stored incentralized warehouse type facilities that could serve as distributioncenters. These facilities would be located near major thoroughfares,rail lines, airports, or ports. These distribution centers may bestocked with certain system components to allow for a more appropriateresponse to the typical types of disasters in a particular region.System components can then be rapidly loaded and transported from thesestorage facilities to the predetermined deployment sites using variousmodes of transit that may be available at a given moment or location.

Thus, an embodiment of this invention is a shelter comprising a rigidtop frame structure, a rigid bottom frame structure, and one or morecollapsible support arms connecting the top frame structure to thebottom frame structure, wherein the frame structures and the collapsiblesupport arm(s) are sized and configured to form a shelter frame when thecollapsible support arm(s) are in a fully extended position, and whereinthe top frame structure is brought into proximity with the bottom framestructure when the collapsible support arm(s) are in a collapsedposition.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a rigid sheltercomprising a hard shell member having a three-dimensional shape whichforms a shelter compartment, and a rigid floor member, wherein the hardshell member and the rigid floor member are interlockable one to theother.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a system comprised ofa plurality of shelters in accordance with the teachings herein and acanopy sized and configured to be draped and anchored over the top framestructures of the shelters when the shelters are placed in sufficientproximity to each other.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is a system ofshelters comprising at least two rigid shelters in accordance with theteachings herein and at least one rigid connector module, wherein eachrigid connector module is sized and configured to connect a windowopening of a first rigid shelter to a doorway opening of a second rigidshelter.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a system of shelterscomprising a plurality of rigid shelters in accordance with theteachings herein and a canopy sized and configured to be draped andanchored over the hard shell members of the rigid shelters when therigid shelters are placed in sufficient proximity to each other.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a method for rapiddeployment of temporary housing comprising providing a shelter systemwhich comprises a plurality of collapsible shelter structures whereineach shelter structure is comprised of a substantially uniform rigid topframe structure and a substantially uniform rigid bottom framestructure, collapsing the shelter structures by urging each top framestructure and its respective bottom frame structure closer together,loading a plurality of the shelter structures on one or moretransportation units, and unloading and expanding the collapsed shelterstructures.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is a method for rapiddeployment of temporary housing comprising providing a shelter systemwhich comprises a plurality of stackable shelter units wherein eachshelter unit is comprised of a substantially uniform rigid top and aremovable rigid bottom, separating each rigid top from its respectiverigid bottom, stacking the rigid tops and/or the rigid bottoms, loadingthe stacked rigid tops and stacked rigid bottoms on one or moretransportation units, and unloading and assembling the rigid tops andrigid bottoms to form the shelter units.

These and other embodiments and features of this invention will be stillfurther apparent from the ensuing description, accompanying figures andappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1M and 1R depict one particular embodiment of the presentinvention, specifically a soft-wall shelter of this invention, whileFIGS. 1N-1Q depict a magnified view of a collapsible support arm withhinge and locking mechanism of this particular embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 2A-2I depict another particular embodiment of the presentinvention, specifically a rigid version of a shelter of this invention.

FIGS. 3A-3B depict still another particular embodiment of the presentinvention, specifically a particular system of shelters of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 4A-4B depict still another particular embodiment of the presentinvention, specifically another particular system of shelters of thepresent invention

FIGS. 5A-5B depict yet another particular embodiment of the presentinvention, specifically another particular system of shelters of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 6A-6D depict a particular method for rapid deployment of temporaryhousing.

FIGS. 7A-7D depict yet another particular method for rapid deployment oftemporary housing.

Like reference numbers or letters in the figures are used to refer tolike or functionally like parts among the several figures.

FURTHER DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1A-1R, these figures depict one particularembodiment of the present invention, specifically a soft-wall shelter ofthis invention. In the absence of any covering, FIG. 1A represents theplan view of shelter, FIG. 1B a front section of the shelter, FIG. 1C aside section of the shelter, and 1D a rear section of the shelter. FIG.1E depicts a plan view of the shelter, FIG. 1F a front elevation view ofthe shelter, FIG. 1G a side elevation view of the shelter, and FIG. 1H arear elevation view of the shelter. FIGS. 1I-1M represent the steps ofcollapsing a shelter from being erect to being completely collapsed andready for transport or storage. Finally, FIG. 1N is a cut-away view of aparticular embodiment of a soft-wall shelter. In this particularembodiment of the present invention a shelter 10 comprises a rigid topframe structure 12 which is generally rectangular in shape, a rigidbottom frame structure 14 which is generally the same size and shape ofthe rigid top frame structure 12, four collapsible support arms 16connecting the top frame structure 12 to the bottom frame structure 14,and multiple support cables 22 attaching the top frame structure 12 tothe bottom frame structure 14, wherein the support cables 22 are sizedand configured to prevent sway of the shelter 10. The frame structures12, 14 and the collapsible support arms 16 are sized and configured toform a shelter frame 18 when the collapsible support arms 16 are in afully extended position as in FIG. 1I, and wherein the top framestructure 12 is brought into proximity with the bottom frame structure14, when the collapsible support arms 16 are in a collapsed position asin FIG. 1M. The four collapsible support arms 16 each are comprised ofat least one hinge 24, wherein the hinge 24 is positioned approximate toa midpoint along the length of the collapsible support arm 16, and alocking mechanism 26 proximate to the hinge 24, wherein the lockingmechanism 26 is sized and configured to lock the collapsible support arm16 in the fully extended position and wherein the locking mechanism 26is a moveable, rigid sheath sized and configured to cover the hinge 24and to slide up the collapsible support arm 16 to uncover the hinge 24,as can be seen in FIG. 1N in a magnified view of the hinge and lockingmechanism. The rigid top frame structure 12 of this embodiment of theinvention also has as skylight window 25. The bottom frame structure 14is at least partially hollow and is sized and configured to receive andretain water for anchoring the shelter 10 in place. The shelter in thisparticular embodiment also comprises four beds 28 each attached to twobed support cables 36 and two support arms 16, wherein each bed 28 issized and configured so that the bed 28 can alternatively be placed in asubstantially horizontal position supported by the two bed supportcables 36 or in a substantially vertical position, and wherein the bed28 can be nested in a substantially vertical plane that is substantiallyparallel to or substantially the same as a substantially vertical planedefined by two of the collapsible support arms 16 which are adjacent toone another when the bed 28 is in the substantially vertical position.Also, the shelter further comprises a covering 20 complimentary in shapeto the shelter 10, wherein the covering 20 defines at least one dooropening 30, and wherein the shelter 10 further comprises a door 32operatively connected to the shelter 10 at the door opening 30 and azipper 34 for attaching a perimeter portion of the door 32 to aperimeter portion of the door opening 30. Also, as can be seen in thecut-away view of FIG. 1R, a particular embodiment of the presentinvention has a climate control conduit and electrical conduit duct 37connected to the bottom frame structure 14 of the shelter 10 throughwhich a power generator and climate control equipment are operativelyconnected to the shelter 10. Also, as can be seen in FIGS. 1F-1H and 1R,in this particular embodiment, each shelter unit will have an addressand/or zone indicator 38 in order to help keep track of the shelters andof families and individuals who use the shelters. In FIGS. 1F-1H and 1R,the address and/or zone indicator 38 is on a front, a side, a rear, anda front side of the shelter unit, respectively.

In collapsing the soft-wall shelter of the first particular embodimentof the present invention for storage and/or transportation, the fourbeds 28 are folded up and nested into the substantially vertical planedefined by two of the collapsible support arms 16 which are adjacent toone another when the bed 28 is in the substantially vertical position,as depicted in FIG. 1P, and a latch is used to keep the beds 28 in thesubstantially vertical position. Then, the locking mechanism 26 is slidup the collapsible support arm 16 to uncover the hinge 24 as seen in themagnified view in FIG. 1N, which hinge 24 is then folded as in FIGS. 1K,1L, 1N, and 1Q, allowing the shelter frame 18 itself to fold inward tocollapse the shelter 10, bringing the top frame structure 12 and thebottom frame structure 14 closer together as in FIG. 1M.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2I, these figures depict another particularembodiment of the present invention, specifically a rigid version of ashelter of this invention. The rigid shelter 40 comprises a hard shellmember 42 having a three-dimensional shape which forms a sheltercompartment 44 and a rigid floor member 46, wherein the hard shellmember 42 and the rigid floor member 46 are interlockable one to theother. The rigid floor member 46 is partially hollow and is sized andconfigured to receive and retain water as a weighting substance. Theshelter of this particular embodiment also comprises a rigid frame 52 onthe inside of the hard shell member 42 wherein the rigid frame 52 issubstantially the same size and shape as the hard shell member 42 andwherein the rigid frame 52 is connected to the hard shell member 42 inat least one spot. The shelter 40 of this particular embodiment furthercomprises four beds 54 each supported by two support members 56 of therigid frame 52, wherein each bed 54 is attached to the rigid frame 52 inat least one location, wherein each bed 54 is sized and configured sothat the bed 54 can alternatively be placed in a substantiallyhorizontal position or in a substantially vertical position, and whereinthe bed 54 can be nested in a substantially vertical plane that issubstantially parallel to or substantially the same as a substantiallyvertical plane defined by the two support members 56 of the rigid frame52 adjacent to one another when the bed 54 is in the substantiallyvertical position. Also, in this particular embodiment, the shelter 40further comprises at least one latch sized and configured for securingeach bed 54 in the substantially vertical position when nested. Also,the hard shell member 42 defines at least one door opening 48, and adoor 50 operatively connected to the shelter 40 at the door opening 48which door 50 can be locked, as well as two window openings 60, whereinat least one of the window openings has a removable covering 62. As seenin the cut-away view of the shelter 40 in FIG. 2I, a particularembodiment of the present invention has a climate control conduit andelectrical conduit duct 64 connected to the a rigid floor member 46 ofthe shelter 40 through which a power generator and climate controlequipment are operatively connected to the shelter 40. Also, as can beseen in FIGS. 2E-2I, in this particular embodiment, each shelter unitwill have an address and/or zone indicator 66 in order to help keeptrack of the shelters and of families and individuals who use theshelters. In FIGS. 2E-2I, the address and/or zone indicator 66 is on atop, a front, a side, a rear, and a front side of the shelter unit,respectively.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a particular system of shelters isdepicted, which may be used for either soft-wall shelters 10 or rigidshelters 40. FIG. 3A is an elevation view of this particular embodimentusing rigid shelters 40, while FIG. 3B is a plan view of this particularembodiment using rigid shelters 40. In this embodiment, the system iscomprised of a plurality of rigid shelters 40 and a canopy 70 sized andconfigured to be draped, pulled tightly, and anchored to the hard shellmembers 42 of the rigid shelters 40 using a distal anchor device 72. Therigid shelters 40 are placed in sufficient proximity to each other forthe canopy 70 to cover and anchor to each rigid shelter 40 in thesystem, in the particular grouping as shown in FIG. 3B.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, another particular system of sheltersis depicted, which may be used for either soft-wall shelters 10 or rigidshelters 40. FIG. 4A is an elevation view of this particular embodimentemploying rigid shelters 40, while FIG. 4B is a plan view of thisparticular embodiment employing rigid shelters 40. In this particularembodiment, a pole 74 is deployed vertically to a height at least ashigh as the top of the rigid shelters 40, and the rigid shelters 40 areplaced around the pole 74 to form a pod 76, such that one side of eachrigid shelter 40 is proximal 78 to the pole 74 and an opposing side ofeach rigid shelter 40 is distal 80 to the pole 74, wherein the canopy 70is sized and configured to drape from near the top of the pole 74 to thedistal side 80 of each rigid shelter 40 in the pod 76, and wherein atleast one distal anchor device 82 is attached at least to the distalside 80 of at least one rigid shelter 40 and is sized and configured toconnect the canopy 70 to the rigid shelter 40.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, these figures depict a particularsystem of shelters of this invention comprising three rigid shelters 40of this invention and two rigid connector modules 90, wherein each rigidconnector module 90 is sized and configured to connect a window opening60 of a first rigid shelter 40 to a doorway opening 48 of a second rigidshelter 40.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A-6D, these figures depict a particular methodfor rapid deployment of temporary housing comprising providing a sheltersystem which comprises a plurality of collapsible shelter structures,such as those depicted in FIGS. 1A-1Q and FIG. 6A, wherein each shelterstructure 10 is comprised of a substantially uniform rigid top framestructure 12 and a substantially uniform rigid bottom frame structure14, with the method of rapid deployment of this invention comprisingcollapsing each shelter structure 10 by urging a top frame structure 12and its respective bottom frame structure 14 closer together as seen inFIGS. 6B and 6C, and loading a plurality of the shelter structures 10 onone or more transportation units as seen in FIG. 6D, a semi flatbedtruck in this instance 92. Then, upon reaching a specific deploymentdestination, the collapsed shelter structures may also be unloaded andexpanded into shelter structures 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A-7D, these figures depicts yet anotherparticular method for rapid deployment of temporary housing comprisingproviding a shelter system which comprises a plurality of stackableshelter units 40, such as those depicted in FIGS. 2A-2H and in FIG. 7A,wherein each shelter unit 40 is comprised of a substantially uniformrigid top 42 and a removable rigid bottom 46, with the method of rapiddeployment of this invention comprising separating each rigid top 42from its respective rigid bottom 46 as seen in FIGS. 7B and 7C, stackingand loading the rigid tops 42 and/or the rigid bottoms 46 on one or moretransportation units such as seen in FIG. 7D, a semi flatbed truck inthis instance 92. Then, upon reaching a specific deployment destination,the rigid tops 42 and rigid bottoms 46 may be unloaded and assembled toform the shelter units 40.

As discussed supra, in one particular embodiment of the presentinvention, the soft-wall, collapsible shelters, the rigid top and bottomframe structures of the present invention may be any matching shape andsize and comprised of any rigid material. Preferably the rigid top andbottom frame structures are similarly sized and rectangular in shape andcomprised of a metal or hard plastic material. Most preferably, therigid top and bottom frame structures are comprised of a metal frame,insulation material, and a hard plastic material. The shelters may alsovary in size, but preferably the shelters are between 6′ to 10′ wide, 6′to 10′ deep, and 6′ to 10′ tall. Most preferably, the shelters areapproximately 9′4″ wide, 8′0″ deep, and 8′6″ tall. Also, preferably,bottom frame structure is at least partially hollow and is sized andconfigured to receive and retain a weighting substance for anchoring theshelter in place. Any weighting substance may be used, preferably theweighting substance is not flammable and is readily available at ashelter deployment site and preferably the weighting substance is inliquid or granular form. Preferred weighting substances that can be usedincluding water, sand, soil, or gravel. The most preferred weightingsubstance is water.

The collapsible support arms connecting the top frame structure to thebottom frame structure of the present invention may also be comprised ofany rigid material. Preferably, there are four collapsible support armsin each shelter, placed near corresponding corners of the rigid top andbottom frame structures of the shelter, and preferably the fourcollapsible support arms are comprised of a rigid material. Examples ofa suitable rigid material would be metals, wood, and fiberglass.Preferably the collapsible support arms are comprised of a metalmaterial, and most preferably are comprised of aluminum. Also,preferably, the collapsible support arms each are comprised of at leastone hinge, wherein the hinge is positioned approximate to a midpointalong the length of the collapsible support arm, and wherein eachcollapsible support arm further comprises a locking mechanism proximateto the hinge, wherein the locking mechanism is sized and configured tolock the collapsible support arm in the fully extended position. Anyhinge will work with the collapsible support arms of the presentinvention as long as the hinge allows the top and bottom rigid framestructures to be urged together when collapsing the collapsible supportarms. Examples of suitable hinges include a pivot point or pin hinge,most preferable is the pivot-point or pivot-pin type of hinge, anexample of which is the hinge depicted in FIG. 1N. The locking mechanismmay be any mechanism which can lock the collapsible support arm in afully extended position while the shelter is in a deployedconfiguration, such as a pin or a rigid sheath. Most preferably, thelocking mechanism is a moveable, rigid sheath sized and configured tocover the hinge and to slide up and/or down the collapsible support armto uncover the hinge.

The covering complimentary in shape to the shelter may be comprised ofany flexible material. Preferably, the covering is comprised of nylon,polyester, or canvas material. Most preferably the covering is comprisedof Polyester. Also, the covering may either encase the collapsiblesupport arms of the present invention, or the collapsible support armsmay be external to the covering. Preferably, the covering may eitherencase the collapsible support arms and protects the collapsible supportarms from the elements. The covering also preferably comprises anelastic band and insulation. Preferably, the elastic band is connectedto or integral with the covering, wherein the elastic band is sized andconfigured to put tension on the covering, to thereby facilitatecollapsing the support arms for transport or storage of the shelterwherein the covering and any support cables are drawn in between the topand bottom frame structures when the shelter is in the collapsedposition. The elastic band may be comprised of any elastic material.

The support cable in one embodiment of the present invention attachingthe top frame structure to the bottom frame structure may also be madeof any material, wherein the support cable is sized and configured toprevent sway of the shelter. Preferably, there are at least 6 supportcables forming 3 “X” patterns, connected between the rigid top andbottom frame structures of each shelter, and preferably, the supportcables are comprised of any flexible metal cable, such as aircraftcable).

The latch in one embodiment of the present invention, which is sized andconfigured for securing a bed in the substantially vertical position,may be any type of mechanical mechanism which may secure the bed in thesubstantially vertical position. Examples of a suitable latch of thisinvention would include a spring-loaded pull, a spring-loaded pin, aspring latch, a slam latch, a compression latch, a draw latch, a keeperlatch, a gravity latch, a gate latch, a rotary latch, a cam latch, orany similar type of fastening mechanism. The latch may be comprised ofany material, preferably a hard plastic or metal material. Mostpreferably, the latch is a spring-loaded pin and is comprised of metal.The door of this embodiment of the present invention may be of anymaterial, either flexible or rigid, and may be attached to acorresponding door opening using any attaching mechanism, including azipper, a lock, a latch, a catch, a pin, by frictional contact, hook andloop fasteners, magnetic clasp/seal, or other similar attachingmechanisms. Preferably, the door is made of a flexible material and isattached to the door opening using a zipper mechanism.

Preferably, the rigid floor member of one particular embodiment of thisinvention is at least partially hollow and is sized and configured toreceive and retain a weighting substance for anchoring the shelter inplace. Any weighting substance may be used. Preferably the weightingsubstance is in liquid or granular form, is not flammable, and isreadily available at a shelter deployment site. Examples of suitableweighting substances that can be used in this invention include water,sand, soil, or gravel. The most preferred weighting substance is water.

The door of this embodiment of the present invention may be of anymaterial, either flexible or rigid, and may be attached to acorresponding door opening using any attaching mechanism, including azipper, a lock, a latch, a catch, a pin, by frictional contact, or othersimilar attaching mechanisms. Preferably, the door is comprised of arigid material and is attached to the door opening using a lockmechanism. Most preferably, the door is comprised of a hard plastic ormetal material. The rigid frame of this particular embodiment of thepresent invention may be comprised of any rigid material. Preferably,the rigid frame is comprised of a hard plastic or a metal material.

Examples of a suitable latch sized and configured for securing the bedin the substantially vertical position of this particular embodiment ofthe present invention would include a spring-loaded pull, aspring-loaded pin, a spring latch, a slam latch, a compression latch, adraw latch, a keeper latch, a gravity latch, a gate latch, a rotarylatch, a cam latch, or any similar type of fastening mechanism. Thelatch may be comprised of any material, preferably a hard plastic ormetal material. Most preferably, the latch is a slam latch and iscomprised of metal.

In the particular embodiment of this invention where a system comprisesa plurality of shelters and a canopy sized and configured to be drapedand anchored over the top frame structures of the shelters when theshelters are placed in sufficient proximity to each other, either thesoft-wall shelters or the rigid shelters may be employed. The canopy ofthis particular embodiment may be comprised of any material. Suitablematerials include nylon, polyester, or canvas material. Preferably, thematerials are waterproof or have been waterproofed prior to use as acanopy of this invention. Most preferably the canopy is comprised of awaterproof or waterproofed canvas.

In the particular embodiment in which a pole is deployed as part of thesystem of shelters, which may include a system of soft-wall shelters orrigid shelters, the pole of the present invention may be comprised ofany rigid material, preferably a metal material. Also, preferably, thepole is deployed vertically by any means which secures the pole in asubstantially vertical position. Suitable examples of securing the polein a substantially vertical position include digging a hole in theground and placing a portion of a base end of the pole into the hole,weighting a base end of the pole with various weighting mechanisms,placing objects around a base end of the pole to prevent movement of thepole, or by attaching a large base to the foot of the pole andtensioning the canvas against their anchor points. In placing theshelters around the pod, the distance of the shelters from the pole maybe predetermined or may be determined based on the size of the canopy.The shelters may be the same distance from the pole, or they may bevarying distances from the pole, so long as the canopy is of sufficientsize to drape from near the top of the pole to the distal side of eachshelter in the pod. Also, the distal anchor device attached at least tothe distal side of each shelter can be any device which sufficientlyattaches and retains the canopy to the shelter. Suitable distal anchordevices include a prong, a bollard, a horseshoe anchor, a bolt, a hook,a pin, cleat, or other anchoring devices of the like. The most preferreddistal anchor device is a cable and cleat.

In other particular embodiments of the present invention, the canopy maybe comprised of an inner canopy and an outer canopy, wherein theproximal anchor is attached to at least one shelter on its proximalside, wherein the distal anchor is attached to at least one shelter onits distal side, wherein the inner canopy is sized and configured todrape from near the top of the pole to the proximal side of the shelter,whereby the proximal anchor device connects the inner canopy to theshelter, and wherein the outer canopy is sized and configured to drapefrom near the top of the pole to the distal side of the shelter, wherebythe distal anchor device of the shelter connects the outer canopy to theshelter. While with this particular embodiment, either the soft-wallshelters or the rigid shelters may be employed, preferably, thisembodiment is used with the soft-wall shelters. Like the distal anchordevice discussed above, the proximal anchor device can be any devicewhich sufficiently attaches and retains the canopy to the shelter.Suitable proximal anchor devices include a prong, a bollard, a cleat, astake, a horseshoe anchor, a bolt, a hook, a pin or other anchoringdevices of the like. The most preferred proximal anchor device is acable and cleat.

In another particular embodiment of the present invention, the rigidconnector module may be any device which connects the window opening ofthe first rigid shelter to the doorway of the second rigid shelter,which allows ingress and egress between the first rigid shelter and thesecond rigid shelter. The rigid connector module may be comprised of anyrigid material, preferably a hard plastic or metal.

The collapsible shelter structures used in another particular embodimentof the present invention for rapid deployment of temporary housing maybe any collapsible shelter. Preferably, the collapsible shelterstructures are the soft-wall shelters of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

The stackable shelter units used in another particular embodiment of thepresent invention for rapid deployment of temporary housing may be anyshelter which may be stacked. Preferably, the stackable shelterstructures are the rigid shelters of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

Except as may be expressly otherwise indicated, the article “a” or “an”if and as used herein is not intended to limit, and should not beconstrued as limiting, the description or a claim to a single element towhich the article refers. Rather, the article “a” or “an” if and as usedherein is intended to cover one or more such elements, unless the textexpressly indicates otherwise.

This invention is susceptible to considerable variation within thespirit and scope of the appended claims, and should not be construed aslimited to the foregoing illustrated embodiments.

1. A rigid shelter comprising a hard shell member having athree-dimensional shape which forms a shelter compartment, such that thehard shell member is stackable to nest within another hard shell member,and a rigid floor member, a rigid frame disposed inside of the hardshell member, at least one latch and at least two support members and atleast one bed attached to the rigid frame in at least one location,wherein the hard shell member and the rigid floor member areinterlockable one to the other, the rigid frame is substantially thesame size and shape as the hard shell member, the rigid frame isconnected to the hard shell member in at least one spot, and the bed issized and configured so that the bed can alternatively be placed in asubstantially horizontal position or in a substantially verticalposition, and the bed can be nested in a substantially vertical planethat is substantially parallel to or substantially the same as asubstantially vertical plane defined by two support members of the rigidframe adjacent to one another when the bed is in the substantiallyvertical position, the latch further being sized and configured forsecuring the bed in the substantially vertical position.
 2. The rigidshelter as in claim 1 wherein the rigid floor member is at leastpartially hollow and is sized and configured to receive and retain aweighting substance for anchoring the rigid shelter in place.
 3. Therigid shelter as in claim 1 wherein the hard shell member defines atleast one door opening, and wherein the hard shell member furthercomprises a door operatively connected to the rigid shelter at the dooropening.
 4. The rigid shelter of claim 3 wherein the hard shell memberdefines at least one window opening.
 5. The rigid shelter of claim 4further comprising a removable covering over the window opening.
 6. Asystem comprised of a plurality of rigid shelters as described in claim1 and a canopy sized and configured to be draped and anchored over a topof the shell member of each of the shelters when the shelters are placedin sufficient proximity to each other.
 7. The system of shelters as inclaim 6 further comprising a pole and at least one distal anchor device,wherein the pole is deployed vertically to a height at least as high asthe top of the hard shell members of the shelters, wherein the sheltersare placed around the pole to form a pod, such that one side of eachshelter is proximal to the pole and an opposing side of each shelter isdistal to the pole, wherein the canopy is sized and configured to drapefrom near a top of the pole to one of the sides of each shelter in thepod, and wherein the at least one distal anchor device is attached atleast to the distal side of at least one shelter and is sized andconfigured to connect the canopy to the shelter.
 8. The system ofshelters as in claim 7 further comprising at least one proximal anchordevice and the canopy is comprised of an inner canopy and an outercanopy, wherein the at least one proximal anchor is attached to at leastone of the shelters on its proximal side, wherein the at least onedistal anchor is attached to at least one of the shelters on its distalside, wherein the inner canopy is sized and configured to drape fromnear the top of the pole to the proximal side of the at least one of theshelters, whereby the proximal anchor device connects the inner canopyto the at least one of the shelters, and wherein the outer canopy issized and configured to drape from near the top of the pole to thedistal side of the at least one of the shelters, whereby the distalanchor device connects the outer canopy to the at least one of theshelters.
 9. The system of shelters as in claim 6 further comprising apower generator operatively connected via at least one electricalconduit to one or more of the shelters in the system.
 10. The system ofshelters as in claim 6 further comprising climate control equipmentoperatively connected to one or more of the shelters in the system viaat least one climate control conduit.
 11. A system of shelterscomprising at least a first rigid shelter and a second rigid shelter,the rigid shelters each being as provided in claim 1, and at least onerigid connector module, wherein each rigid connector module is sized andconfigured to connect a window opening of the first rigid shelter to adoorway opening of the second rigid shelter.
 12. The system of sheltersin claim 11 further comprising a canopy sized and configured to bedraped and anchored over the hard shell members of the rigid shelters.13. The system of shelters as in claim 12 further comprising a pole andat least one distal anchor device, wherein the pole is deployedvertically to a height at least as high as the hard shell members of therigid shelters, wherein the rigid shelters are placed around the pole toform a pod, such that one side of each rigid shelter is proximal to thepole and an opposing side of each rigid shelter is distal to the pole,wherein the canopy is sized and configured to drape from near a top ofthe pole to the distal side of each rigid shelter in the pod, andwherein the at least one distal anchor device is attached at least tothe distal side of at least one rigid shelter and is sized andconfigured to connect the canopy to the rigid shelter.